By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Fresh after beating a Zanu PF candidate in last Saturday’s Norton by-election, Temba Mliswa declared a big plot—to contest against and beat President Robert Mugabe in the 2018 general elections.
Mliswa stood as an independent and beat Zanu PF’s Ronald Chindedza and the National Constitutional Assembly’s David Choga, garnering almost 9,000 votes against the ruling party candidate’s 6,192.
“This victory is not for Norton residents alone, but for Zimbabweans and it’s a warning to President (Robert) Mugabe that he will lose the 2018 elections just the same way Zanu PF has lost the by-election.
“I’m the real bull in the kraal. President Mugabe sent his small bulls (Vice-President Emmerson) Mnangagwa, (Vice-President Phelekezela) Mphoko and (Zanu PF commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere and I defeated them.
“Now I’m going for the biggest bull in their kraal, President Mugabe, because there must be one bull in Zimbabwe,” said victorious Mliswa who went into the by-election as an underdog.
In June last year, he contested in Hurungwe West, the same seat he held before being expelled from the ruling party, but lost to Zanu PF’s Keith Guzah.
Mliswa enjoyed the support of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), war veterans who have rebelled against Mugabe and Zanu PF and citizens activists during the Norton contest.
The Norton seat fell vacant after Zanu PF expelled Christopher Mutsvangwa, the war veterans’ leader who has been vocal against Mugabe.
Mutsvangwa blamed Zanu PF’s defeat to Mliswa on a political rival, Saviour Kasukuwere, the ruling party national commissar.
“Tyson is the devil’s gift, the black magic spell that will sink all those in the Zanu PF revolutionary party that embraced and promoted an evil agenda of unbridled avarice, maniacal kleptocracy and shameless attempt at power grab.
“He can now lick his wounds after the no-nonsense and plucky Norton electorate gave him the boot. Thank you Norton voters from the land of the brave, the home of Chimurenga I of 1896,” he told the local private media.
He added that continued reliance on Kasukuwere would lead to further defeats for Zanu PF. Nehanda Radio
